Shelf



Get. 30, 1923. 1,472,129

c. c. MEIXELL SHELF Filed Dec. 9, 1921 Patented Get. 30, 1923.

inane CLYDE C. MEIXELL, OF BETHLEHEM,'PENNSYLVANIA.

, snntr.

Application filed December 9, 1921. Serial No. 521,114.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE C. MnrxELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bethlehem,in the county of Northampton and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Shelf, of which the following isa specification. I

This invention is an auxiliary device designed for use with standard store shelving. In mercantile establishments which carry large stocks of shelf goods especially where open shelves are employed, much time and labor is expended in transferring the goods to the shelves, from the cases in which they are shipped. Usually the case is placed on the floor or counter, contiguous to the shelves to be filled, and the goods transferred from this unhandy position. This entails considerable labor, and where the shelves are high,

of two or more persons. The main object of the invention 1 is to provide an auxiliary shelf, which can be removably supported from any shelf of a stack of shelving, and possessing suflicient stability to sustain the weight of the packing case and its contents, while the goods are being transferred to the permanent shelves.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a stack of shelving with the invention applied thereto. Figure 2 is a bottom plan view illustrating a form of auxiliary shelf. Figure 3 is a bottom plan view illustrating a slight modification.

Referring to the drawing 10, 10, designate the open shelves of a stack of shelving of any preferred construction, said shelving being divided into compartments by upright division walls 11. Supported by each division wall is a supporting device 12, secured thereto in any suitable manner, said supporting device having an offset portion 13 at its upper end, spaced from the division wall 11. V

The auxiliary shelf 14 may be of any de- 50 sired dimensions, and has a web-like support member 16 secured to its underside, said support member being tapered at its ends, as indicated at 17, and shaped to pass between a division wall 11 and the offset portion 13, of a support member 12. The support and the transfer frequently requires the services guide member 16 is secured to the shelf in any des red manner, preferably by screws or thehke extending through a flange 18, formed integrally with the web-like portion 16. Said support member is extended rear wardly to form a bearing arm, as shown. The underside of the auxiliary shelf 14 is also provided with spaced apart bearing arms 19, which project beyond the rear edge of said shelf, so as to bear against the underside of the contiguous main shelf 10, to steady the auxiliary shelf in position.

In practlce, when it is desired to place goods upon any of the shelves 10, the aux iliary shelf 14 is secured in place, by slidably passing the web 16 beneath the shelf 10 to be filled, between the upright 11 and the offset portion 13 of the support member 12. The rear end or hearing arm of said member 16 extends beneath the shelf 10, and the same is true of the bearing arms 19, so that the shelf is firmly supported upon the support member 12, and steadied by the flange 18 and bearing members 19 pressing against the underside of the shelf 10. The case or package containing the goods to be transferred is then placed upon the auxiliary shelf, in a position to permit convenient transfer of the goods to the permanent shelf 10. After the transfer has been made, the auxiliary shelf may be removed and placed at any convenient storage point for subsequent use.

In Figure 3 is illustrated a slight modification, in which the shelves 10 are provided on their undersides with sleeve-like keepers 20, into which telescope bearing arms 21, secured to the underside of the auxiliary shelf 22. In practice, this auxiliary shelf is used in substantially the same manner as the shelf illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains. It will be particularly noted that by means of the auxiliary shelf, the goods to be transferred to the permanent shelving may be conveniently supported, and handling of the goods is reduced to a minimum. The device is inexpensive and maybe applied to any open shelving now in general use. An important advantage is that the auxiliary shelf is engaged and disengaged from the permanent shelf by a sliding movement, and the keepers cooperate with the arms 16 and 19, or arms of the auxiliary shelf.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although Without attempting to set forth all 0f the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is .1. A shelf of the character described com: prising an auxiliary shelf having spaced apart rearwardly extended bearing arms and an intermediate bearing member, and a keeper constructed to be permanently sup ported below a fixed shelf, said arms and bearing member being positioned to slidebly engage the 'under side of a permanent shelf, said keeper being positioned to be slidably engaged by said bearing member.

2. VA shelf of the character described eomprising an auxiliary shelf having spaeed apart rearwardly extended bearing arms and an intermediate bearing member, and a keeper constructed to be permanently sup ported below a fixed shelf, said arms and bearing member being positioned to slidably engage the under side of a permanent shelf, said keeper being provided With an offset portion positioned to be slidably engaged by said bearing member. 7

3. The combinatlon, with a supporting member having an offset support portion, of

an auxiliary shelf havin a weblikesupport ing having an upright and a support member secured to said upright, of an auxiliary shelf having a supporting member shaped to slidably engage the supportmember, said supporting member having a rearwardly extended bearin arm positioned to slidably engage the under side of a permanent shelf, and rearW-ardly extended bearing members carried by the auxiliary shelf and positioned to also engage the under side of said permanent sh l' ing- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

' CLYDE G. MEIXELL.

4]. The ,combination with permanent shelv- 

